Living in Montreal vs Toronto: Where Should You Move in?

Montreal vs Toronto: Where Should You Move in 2022?

Choosing to choose between Montreal and Toronto puts two of Canada’s most famous cities against one another. With this in mind, it is clear how difficult it can be to pick between them as they both have distinct characteristics and are stunningly beautiful.

For you to put your mind at rest, let us show you the differences between living in Montreal as opposed. Toronto in this article and hopefully assist you in deciding which one is the best option in your next relocation.

Let us begin our journey!

Population

Toronto is the most significant metropolitan area in Canada, situated in Ontario. Ontario. According to the most up-to-date figures from 2021, over 6.2 million Canadians reside in Toronto. Toronto urban region from a total population of more than 37 million. The city of Montreal’s total population stands at 1.7 million people, while the more populous Montreal city population is at 4.3 million.

According to the census of 2016, Montreal, like the remainder of Quebec, has a wide variety of ethnic groups, which includes North American (48%) residents, of which 1,755,635 of them were Canadians, European (42%) and African (8 per cent). The majority of people living in Toronto have European (46 per cent), Asian (41%) and North American (15%) origin, with 746,965 of Canadian heritage.

Tourists

In terms of the number of visitors who come to Toronto annually, Toronto is reported to have 27.5 million tourists in comparison to Montreal, which was 11.1 million tourists in 2019; however, just 2.75 million because of the pandemic of 2020.

It is a fact that after the pandemic has diminished, we are looking forward to travelling. You can be sure that Canada is keen to welcome back its visitors. Some organizations are trying to revitalize Canadian travel.

Climate and Weather

Canada’s climate varies and can be quite different from region to region. For instance, the Pacific coast is excellent throughout the year, whereas extremes are more prevalent in the country’s central western area (cold winters and hot summers). Since the air masses absorb the vapour emitted by water, Ontario and Quebec are more prone to rainfall than the prairies in the interior.

Montreal

What exactly is Montreal well-known? It is partly due to its beautiful summers and many festivals and events (Cirque du Soleil to ring an alarm?). It is also because the highest temperature during summer is 26 degrees Celsius. This means that the peak tourist season is between June and September. After the sun sets comes the snow, which can lead to winter temperatures as low as -12degC.

Toronto

In the same way, Toronto is a great location to live and enjoys pleasant summer temperatures that average 25degC and winter temperatures that reach an average of 7degC. It’s safe to say that there’s no significant difference between the climates of the two cities. And you aren’t going to be disappointed with either of them!

Safety

Excellent relief for Canadians and visitors planning to visit one city in the pair. Due to its low homicide rate, the larger Montreal region was ranked as the no.1 most secure city in the 20 most populous metropolitan regions across Canada in 2018 and United States in 2018. The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Toronto second in its 2021 Safe Cities Index.

The crime index for the city is shown in the numbers in this table.

As you can observe, the crime rate in Montreal is a little higher than in Toronto, despite Toronto being among Canada’s safest cities in recent times. Therefore, wherever you travel, ensure that you travel safely.

Cleanliness

In the eyes of Montreal cigarettes, they accounted for 30% of the litter found on city streets and sidewalks in 2020. On the contrary, however, Toronto has experienced more littering due to the disease outbreak. The most frequent litter items on the roadsides are cigarettes and personal protective gear (masks and gloves).

If you’re planning to move to Toronto or Montreal, We suggest using the recycling options in the bins and participating in cleanup initiatives.

Air Quality

While having an overall PM2.5 of 10 milligrams per cubic meter for 2019, Montreal generally has poor air quality in the winter months because of the increase in environmentally harmful heating options. Since then, Montreal has worked to improve its air quality, as documented in the 2021 report on air quality.

However, Toronto had a PM2.5 average of 7.4 mg/m3 in 2019, which is within the WHO’s level for the highest air quality. This is a good result for such a heavily urbanized city and puts it among the most polluted cities.

Pollution

Industrial sources, traffic, residential and commercial sources, and mobile sources off-road all contribute to the air pollution in Toronto, which has significant health effects and is responsible for around 1100 hospitalizations and 280 deaths yearly.

Surprisingly, lockdowns affected certain economic activities, like construction and transportation. In the end, the days with an acceptable air quality index increased significantly, and there were just seven days without smog being reported in Montreal between March and December 2020.

Greenery

Because of its more affluent tradition and a great sense of city planning, Montreal living comes with easy access to lush parks and beautiful urban squares. Montreal offers a playground for children throughout the year, including Montreal’s Laurentians, along the Eastern Townships just an hour’s drive from the city.

If you’re looking for a stroll in the woods, visit Mount Royal, Parc La Fontaine or Jarry Park. Parc Maisonneuve, or Parc Jean-Drapeau. In addition, Square Saint-Louis, Victoria Square, and Dorchester Square are perfect squares with stunning gardens.

Remember that Toronto has many parks, 1500 parks to be precise! Although many visitors will go to the most famous gardens, like High Park, Trinity Bellwood Park and Bluffer’s Park, there are lesser-known but often ignored parks that are more interesting and worth a visit. Toronto Music Garden, Toronto Sculpture Garden, and Evergreen Brick Works are a few.

Following the information, I think many might be thinking about moving to Toronto instead of Montreal!

                                     Housing

The first few days have been going pretty smoothly. But, it’s time to look at the unpopular housing, rent and utility prices. What are the costs of living in the two cities in contrast?

Rent

Regarding rental costs for Canada, Montreal falls right in the middle, and Toronto is a bit higher. What is the cost of living in Toronto? Let’s investigate.

Toronto is near twice as expensive. As real estate prices rise, the cost of these homes will almost definitely increase.

Utilities

It is well-known that no province in Canada can match Quebec’s pricing for electricity. The status of a Montreal resident means having an electric bill of approximately $74 for a house that uses 1000 kWh in a typical month. In the end, we estimate that the monthly bill for utilities for residents of Montreal will be about $341. that includes heating, electricity, water, garbage and more.

However, when considering the same amount of electricity, Toronto residents can expect to pay about $134 during peak times. In addition, a typical monthly cost of living within Toronto is approximately $471.

If a school, rent as well as transportation costs are included when you consider transportation, school, and rent costs, when you factor in transportation, school and rent costs total cost of living per price of living in Toronto will be $4,975, whereas, in Montreal, it’s $3,038. It’s a shame you don’t have an exact picture of living costs in Montreal and Toronto without all expenses.

                              Public Transport

The Societe de transport de Montreal (STM) and The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) offer a wide range of public transport choices, including subway, bus and tram. There are other options to travel around cities. Let’s look at the following table:

An accessible public transportation system serves each central town and city in Canada with one or more forms of transportation. This is highly convenient and vital for inhabitants. The public transportation system in Montreal differs. Toronto mainly differs in prices.

                                  Food Costs

Because of the city’s French tradition, food is highly regarded. For a pint in Montreal, you can enjoy delicious bagels, poutine, crepes and craft beers for between $7 and $30. Additionally, food items typically cost about 350 dollars each month.

Poutine, Tim Hortons Churros, Peameal, bacon wrapped in a bun, and Chinese delights are just a few of the numerous Canadian dishes in Toronto’s vibrant food scene. Restaurant and cafes prices vary from $5 to $45 per two people, and the cost of groceries for a month for a single individual is $302.36.

Below are a few grocery prices comparisons:

From these prices on the market, food prices do not vary significantly between these two cities; however, remember that these are just average prices; therefore, you will get better bargains if you go to several markets.

                           Job Opportunities

According to the latest census data, the mean annual salary for a person living in Montreal is $53,600. While in Toronto, it’s around $59,250 for 2020. In contrast, the minimum wage for Montreal amounts to $14.25 an hour. However, Toronto anticipates it will rise to $15.50 an hour starting October 1 2022.

To help you comprehend the pay scale, here’s a table that lists the most lucrative professions and the median salaries for both cities.

Large cities provide many opportunities. Montreal and Toronto are considered excellent locations for high-tech finance, health care, life sciences, and manufacturing companies in both cities.

                               Entertainment

It shouldn’t work without fun in your life. What can you accomplish with your time in Montreal or Toronto? There are certainly lots, and we’re going to get it started!

Montreal

Montrealer are shocked at having an enjoyable time. The city hosts various events throughout the year, such as film festivals, car races, competitions for dance, artistic festivals, popular cycling events along with dog sledding, as well as the annual celebrations of Christmas. One of the fun pieces of information regarding Montreal is the fact it was the home of Cirque du Soleil.

They can find many locations if you are more talented, including The Quebec National Library and the Place des Arts.

Toronto

As one would think, Toronto isn’t slack on entertainment. Numerous walking tours educate visitors about the city’s growing population. If you’re looking for something that’s out of the ordinary, you might want to consider an excursion or dinner at a fine restaurant along the Humber River.

In addition, The city is also the home of numerous film festivals ( Toronto International Film Festival, anyone? ), carnivals, festivals, cultural events, and even concerts. There is also lively nightlife for those who wish to have a good time.

These articles may be pertinent:

• National Symbols of Canada
• What is Canada?
• Why is Toronto Called the Six?
• How Many Lakes Are There in Canada?

Sights

Then, we will look at the most crucial thing for any travellers and answer questions such as “What is Montreal is known for?” or “What are the most popular attractions in Toronto?”. These are our top picks:

Montreal

Montreal is a contemporary and historic city that offers everything you can imagine, including old structures dating back to the past and music festivals featuring the most popular bands. It has been a UNESCO Creative Design City of Design since 2006.

Based on numerous online traveller reviews, these are the top ten tourist attractions in Montreal:

• Old Montreal
• Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
• The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
• Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal
• Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History
• La Ronde
• Space for Life
• Montreal Botanical Garden
• Parc Jean-Drapeau
• Jean-Talon Market

Toronto

There is no doubt that there are lots to do and see in Toronto. Fortunately, most of Toronto’s popular places are within walking distance, so you don’t need to travel far. These are our top picks for the top 10 sites to see in Toronto:

• CN Tower
• Royal Ontario Museum
• Casa Loma
• Distillery Historic District
• The Art Gallery of Ontario
• Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
• St. Lawrence Market
• Hockey Hall of Fame
• High Park
• The Toronto Islands

                         Miscellaneous Costs

In the final section, let’s consider the other costs you could face that could impact your choice between living in Montreal and staying in Toronto.

It’s clear that even with the lower local tax rates, Toronto can be pretty expensive. But, with the higher salary, maybe it’s better to state that the tax is not.

Are you curious about how other provinces measure up? For instance, Montreal vs. Vancouver, Which one is the most distinct? Find out our rankings of the different areas of Canada.